BEIJING — A North Korean diplomat publicly appealed to Japan on Wednesday to urge the United States to lift sanctions on Pyongyang, saying the North won’t return to nuclear disarmament talks until that happens.

“We are ready to return to talks under one condition, and that is that the United States lift its sanctions,” said Song Il Ho, the chief envoy to talks with Japan on forming diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang.

“The United States won’t hear this from us. But if Japan tells the United States, if a friend tells a friend, they might listen,” Song said at a news conference. “Please, Japan, go and tell the United States.”

So give us everything we want then we’ll negotiate how to give you what you want…..